Free with Museum Admission

Penn Museum's World Wonders Wednesday morning summer series celebrates the diversity of the world's cultures through music, dance, and storytelling.

Programs run on Wednesdays from July 1-August 19 from 11 am to noon, leaving time to visit the Museum.

Programs are free with Museum admission. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, with pre-registration (required): 215.746.6774 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
for more information.

World Wonders 2015 Schedule

Wednesday, July 111:00am - 12:00pm Journey to the Americas Participants enjoy Andean and Latin American traditional and folk music with the Eco Del Sur ensemble. Children can learn the origin of numerous wind, percussion, and string instruments, as well as the cultures, geography, and regalia of Latin America. The interactive program includes an invitation for young guests to come on stage and try their hand at playing the instruments.

Wednesday, July 811:00am - 12:00pm Journey to Ancient Egypt Storyteller Michele Belluomini weaves a special “Creatures Featured” series of ancient Egyptian short stories for little listeners. Families can cheer as the falcon god Horus battles the evil Seth; imagine a legendary gigantic snake covered in golden scales who lives on an enchanted island, and tremble as Sekhmet/Hathor, a goddess of Upper Egypt, terrifies the people with her destructive power.

Wednesday, July 1511:00am - 12:00pm An All-Around-the-World Journey Internationally acclaimed musician and recording artist Daria entertains guests with melodies from around the globe. Playing authentic instruments such as guiros, buffalo drums, caiones, sekeres, and singing bowls, Daria engages children with this interactive world music session.

Wednesday, July 2211:00am - 12:00pm Journey to the Caribbean Steel band musical arranger and native Trinidadian Jeffery Moolchan performs a medley of Caribbean music. Guests have fun dreaming of aqua seas and white sand beaches amid the rhythms of live steel pan music.

Wednesday, July 2911:00am - 12:00pm Journey to the Middle East Middle Eastern percussionist Joe Tayoun guides families on a musical journey to Egypt, Turkey, Armenia, and Israel by showcasing the drumming traditions of these cultures. Guests listen, and clap along to the beat.

Wednesday, August 511:00am - 12:00pm Journey to Africa Troupe Da-Da African Dance and Drum Ensemble performs a variety of West African and Afro-Cuban dances. Dressed in colorful, authentic regalia and singing in traditional African languages, the dancers of Troupe Da-Da move gracefully to the powerful rhythms and percussions of the djembe, dundun, conga and bata drums, the sekere, and more. The ensemble seeks to expand the cultural awareness of African contributions to the arts through educational programs and performances.

Wednesday, August 1211:00am - 12:00pm Journey to Ancient Greece Seth Reichgott's one-man-show, Chariot of the Sun, brings to life the heroes, gods, and monsters of Greek mythology. Seth uses poetry, masks, and mime in a dynamic presentation that offers fun and simple introductions to the stories of ancient Greece.

Wednesday, August 1911:00am - 12:00pm A Journey of Ancient Technology The Franklin Institute visits with an interactive science show about the basic physics of motion. With rubber balls, bricks, and wooden blocks, young adventurers can learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion as it applies to ancient architectural technology. Then, children have an opportunity to witness these laws in action in a lever, pulley, and student-driven hover car.